Gaming machine with main and subsidiary game combined

ABSTRACT

A gaming machine with a bonus feature; said bonus feature comprising a subsidiary game played in combination with a main game played on said machine; said subsidiary game displayed as at least one additional simulated bonus game reel appearing in a primary display of said machine; characterized in that said at least one additional simulated bonus game reel appears during said play of said main game, and wherein scatter symbols appearing in a result of a said main game may be combined with at least one scatter symbol appearing on a said additional simulated bonus game reel; a combination of said scatter symbols determining a prize winning outcome.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(b) and 37 C.F.R. §1.55(a) of Australian Patent Application No. AU 2009200276 filed Jan. 23, 2009.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to gaming machines and, more particularly, to gaming machines in which a player has an opportunity to win a bonus feature through play of an additional game on placing an ante bet.

BACKGROUND

Gaming, or poker machines, have become a major source of amusement and diversion in such places as clubs, hotels and casinos in many parts of the world.

Traditionally such machines were mechanical devices where a number of reels marked with a plurality of numbers or symbols could be made to spin randomly by the application of some mechanical input. If the subsequent patterns of numbers or symbols displayed on the reels, when these returned to a rest state, corresponded to predetermined patterns, the machine would provide a prize or payout. Generally such gaming machines have come to be regulated by government authorities as to their number and in the manner in which the machines must return a percentage of the monetary turnover to the players.

The introduction of electronics, computers and electronic graphical displays, has allowed a continual increase in the complexity and variations of gaming machines, games and displays while maintaining the basic concept of the traditional machine.

Machines and games that offer novel and stimulating variations on the basic game theme and environment are eagerly sought by the gaming industry and there is consequently intense competition between machine manufacturers to innovate.

Nevertheless the repetitive playing of even modern gaming machines can lead to boredom of the players with a consequent under-utilization of machines and increase in player dissatisfaction.

It is an object of the present invention to address or at least ameliorate some of the above disadvantages.

Notes

The term “comprising” (and grammatical variations thereof) is used in this specification in the inclusive sense of “having” or “including”, and not in the exclusive sense of “consisting only of”.

The above discussion of the prior art in the Background of the invention, is not an admission that any information discussed therein is citable prior art or part of the common general knowledge of persons skilled in the art in any country.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

Accordingly, in a first broad form of the invention, there is provided a gaming machine with a bonus feature; said bonus feature comprising a subsidiary game played in_combination with a main game played on said machine; said subsidiary game displayed as at least one additional simulated bonus game reel appearing in a primary display of said machine; characterized in that said at least one additional simulated bonus game reel appears during said play of said main game, and wherein scatter symbols appearing in a result of a said main game may be combined with at least one scatter symbol appearing on a said additional simulated bonus game reel; a combination of said scatter symbols determining a prize winning outcome.

Preferably, said subsidiary game is played on said gaming machine as an ante bet; said subsidiary game including a gradual emerging of said at least one additional simulated bonus game reel; said one additional simulated bonus reel emerging at one side of a matrix of symbol containing elements; said symbol containing elements visible portions of a set of side by side simulated reels of said main game.

Preferably, play of said main game and said subsidiary game include the spinning of said set of side by side simulated reels of said main game and spinning of said at least one additional simulated bonus reel of said subsidiary game.

Preferably, a winning outcome of said main game is determined by a predefined pattern of symbols of said symbol containing elements appearing coincident with a predefined pay line of said main game.

Preferably, said at least one additional simulated bonus reel of said subsidiary game is provided with at least one scatter symbol.

Preferably, said at least one additional simulated bonus reel is blank except for said at least one scatter symbol.

Preferably, said matrix of said main game and said emerging additional simulated bonus reel are displayed on a main display module of said gaming machine.

Preferably, as said at least one additional simulated bonus reel emerges, said matrix moves in a direction opposite to said one side at which said at least one additional simulated bonus reel emerges; said display of said matrix and said at least one additional simulated bonus reel remaining centred in a display unit of said gaming machine.

Preferably, said at least one additional simulated bonus reel emerges at the end of a game sequence of said main game when said set of side by side simulated reels of said main game have come to rest.

Preferably, a player of said main game is offered said ante bet for play of said subsidiary game prior to commencement of said main game.

Preferably, said at least one additional simulated bonus game reel emerges during play of a games sequence of said main game; said at least one additional reel beginning to gradually emerge before said set of side by side simulated reels of said main game have come to rest.

Preferably, a player of said main game is offered said ante bet for play of said subsidiary game at the completion of a game sequence of said main game.

Preferably, there is a re-spinning said set of side by side simulated reels of said main game if said player has placed a said ante bet.

Preferably, a pattern of said symbol containing elements appearing in said matrix when said set of side by side simulated reels of said main game have come to rest at an end of said re-spinning is maintained during play of said subsidiary game.

Preferably, said at least one additional simulated reel of said subsidiary game is spun after said set of simulated side by side reels have come to rest.

Preferably, a winning of a bonus feature of said subsidiary game played in combination with a main game, is dependent on a predefined number of scatter symbols appearing among the symbols of said symbol containing elements of said set of simulated side by side reels and said at least one additional simulated bonus reel.

In another broad form of the invention, there is provided a method of playing a main game and a subsidiary game on a gaming machine; said method including the steps of:

presenting said main game as an outcome of spinning a set of side by side simulated reels,

arranging a gradual emerging of at least one additional simulated reel to one side of a matrix formed of symbol containing elements of displayed portions of said set of side by side simulated reels,

awarding a feature to a player of said main game and said subsidiary game if a predefined number of scatter symbols appear on said set of sided by side simulated reels and said at least one additional simulated reel.

In another broad form of the invention, there is provide a method of offering a player an optional ante bet for play of a subsidiary game in combination with play of a main game on a gaming machine; said method including the steps of:

playing said main game on a set of side by side simulated reels,

arranging a gradual emerging of at least one additional simulated reel if a said player has opted to place said ante bet,

awarding a bonus feature to a player of said main game and said subsidiary game if a predefined number of scatter symbols appear on said set of sided by side simulated reels and said at least one additional simulated reel.

In still another broad form of the invention, there is provided a display for a main game and a subsidiary game of a gaming machine; said display gradually changing from a display of portions of a set of side by side simulated reels of said main game, to a display of said set of side by side simulated reels and at least one additional simulated reel appearing to one side of said set of side by side simulated reels; said at least one additional simulated reel arranged for play of a subsidiary game in combination with said main game.

Preferably, said at least one additional simulated reel appears to emerge from under an outermost one of said set of side by side simulated reels of said main game.

Preferably, a bonus feature is awarded to a player of said main game and said subsidiary game; said bonus feature awarded if a combination of symbols displayed on said set of side by side simulated reels and on said at least one additional simulated reels conforms to a predefined number or pattern of said symbols.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a gaming machine on which the combined main and subsidiary games of the present invention are implemented,

FIGS. 2 to 7 show a sequence of game displays showing progress from a main game to the combination of main game and subsidiary game,

FIG. 8 is a schematic representation of the main electronic components of the gaming machine of FIG. 1

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference to FIG. 1, the main game of a gaming machine 10 of the present invention comprises a set of side by side simulated reels 12, each of which is divided into a plurality of symbol containing elements 14. In this instance, the display 16 on the main display module 18 of gaming machine 10 shows portions of a set of five side by side simulated reels 12, with three symbol containing elements 14 of each reel visible, when the reels are at rest, thus forming a five column by three row matrix 20 of the symbol containing elements 14.

As is commonly known in the art, a game played on a gaming machine such as shown in FIG. 1, comprises the placing of a wager or bet by a player of the game, following which the reels 12 are set into spinning motion, each reel coming to rest after a number of revolution, with the actual at rest position of each reel randomly determined. If the pattern of symbols of the symbol containing elements 14 of the at-rest reels conforms to a predefined pattern coincident with a predefined pay line (not shown), the player wins some predetermined benefit. Typically also in the art is the provision that a special or “scatter” symbol 22 such as shown in FIG. 2, may play a part in the conferring of the benefit or of a special feature.

The main game of the present invention conforms to this general scheme, with the player awarded a benefit should the conditions for a winning outcome be satisfied. In the present invention however there is provided to the player, an optional additional wager or ante bet for the subsidiary game of the invention.

The subsidiary game may be wagered on prior to play of the main game, or in at least one preferred form of the invention, may be selected by the player after completion of a main game sequence.

With reference now to FIGS. 3 to 7, in a preferred embodiment, the subsidiary game comprises at least one additional simulated reel 24; the one or more additional reels gradually appearing to slide out from under the outermost reel (in FIGS. 3 to 7 the right-most reel) of the set of side by side simulated reels 12 of the main game. The additional reel 24 (or reels) may appear either to the right of the matrix 20 as shown in FIGS. 3 to 7, or to the left of the matrix. Preferably, as the at least one additional simulated reel 24 of the subsidiary game appears at the side of the matrix 20 of the main game, the matrix 20 moves in a direction opposite to the side at which the additional reel (or reels) appears, so as to maintain the combined matrix 20 and additional reel 24 centred within the main display module 18 of the gaming machine 10. The movements of the matrix 20 and additional reel 24 in this manner, are indicated by the arrows in FIG. 3.

The additional simulated reel 24 (or reels) is initially at rest. As in the example shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the reel 24 is not divided into symbol containing elements, rather displaying as a blank, or evenly textured strip, but may display a single decorative symbol 28 when it first appears. Although not visible when the additional simulated reel 24 first gradually appears, additional reel 24 is provided with at least one scatter similar identical to the scatter symbols 22 of the main game. The at least one scatter symbol of an additional simulated reel 24 of the subsidiary game, is placed at a random location on the reel.

Play of the combined main game and subsidiary game may occur in one of two different ways. Prior to playing the main game, a player may opt to place an ante bet for play of the subsidiary game. Alternatively, a player may elect to play the main game initially and only after the completion of the main game sequence elect to place the ante bet. In either case, the additional simulated reel 24 (or reels) of the subsidiary game appears gradually at the end of play of the main game sequence.

A combined play of the main game and subsidiary game then follows. Firstly, the set of side by side simulated reels of the matrix are spun again, as can be seen from the change in the pattern of symbols from FIG. 4 to FIG. 5, coming to rest to display some pattern. As is shown in the example of FIG. 5, the pattern may include scatter symbols 22. There then follows, as shown in FIG. 6, a spin sequence of the additional simulated reel 24 of the subsidiary game. Should this come to rest displaying an additional scatter symbol as shown in FIG. 7, the combination of scatter symbols of the matrix 20 and of the additional reel 24 may confer on the player a special feature. This is made known to the player by the display of a prominent banner 30 over the combined upper portions of the matrix 20 and the additional reel 24.

Game Implementation

Any of the above described embodiments may be implemented on any gaming machine or group of gaming machine provided with a control module. As shown in FIG. 8, a control module 60 is provided with a microprocessor 62 and working random access memory (RAM) 64. The program code driving any of the described embodiments may be introduced into the control module 60 by connection of a data storage device 66. The device may take any of a number of forms, such as read only memory (ROM), erasable read only memory (EPROM), Compact Flash Card, PCMCIA card and the like. Alternatively, control module 60 may incorporate a hard disc drive to which the code may be written via a suitable input device.

Control module 60 acts to implement appropriate elements of the program code according to inputs from a user keyboard 68 and outputs video imagery to at least a main display module 70.

The above describes only some embodiments of the present invention and modifications, obvious to those skilled in the art, can be made thereto without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. 

1. A gaming machine with a bonus feature; said bonus feature comprising a subsidiary game played in combination with a main game played on said machine; said subsidiary game displayed as at least one additional simulated bonus game reel appearing in a primary display of said machine; characterized in that said at least one additional simulated bonus game reel appears during said play of said main game, and wherein scatter symbols appearing in a result of a said main game may be combined with at least one scatter symbol appearing on a said additional simulated bonus game reel; a combination of said scatter symbols determining a prize winning outcome.
 2. The gaming machine of claim 1 wherein said subsidiary game is played on said gaming machine as an ante bet; said subsidiary game including a gradual emerging of said at least one additional simulated bonus game reel; said one additional simulated bonus reel emerging at one side of a matrix of symbol containing elements; said symbol containing elements visible portions of a set of side by side simulated reels of said main game.
 3. The gaming machine of claim 2 wherein play of said main game and said subsidiary game include the spinning of said set of side by side simulated reels of said main game and spinning of said at least one additional simulated bonus reel of said subsidiary game.
 4. The gaming machine of claim 2 wherein a winning outcome of said main game is determined by a predefined pattern of symbols of said symbol containing elements appearing coincident with a predefined pay line of said main game.
 5. The gaming machine of claim 1 wherein said at least one additional simulated bonus reel of said subsidiary game is provided with at least one scatter symbol.
 6. The gaming machine of claim 5 wherein said at least one additional simulated bonus reel is blank except for said at least one scatter symbol.
 7. The gaming machine of claim 2 wherein said matrix of said main game and said emerging additional simulated bonus reel are displayed on a main display module of said gaming machine.
 8. The gaming machine of claim 2 wherein, as said at least one additional simulated bonus reel emerges, said matrix moves in a direction opposite to said one side at which said at least one additional simulated bonus reel emerges; said display of said matrix and said at least one additional simulated bonus reel remaining centred in a display unit of said gaming machine.
 9. The gaming machine of claim 2 wherein said at least one additional simulated bonus reel emerges at the end of a game sequence of said main game when said set of side by side simulated reels of said main game have come to rest.
 10. The gaming machine of claim 2 wherein a player of said main game is offered said ante bet for play of said subsidiary game prior to commencement of said main game.
 11. The gaming machine of claim 2 wherein said at least one additional simulated bonus game reel emerges during play of a games sequence of said main game; said at least one additional reel beginning to gradually emerge before said set of side by side simulated reels of said main game have come to rest.
 12. The gaming machine of claim 2 wherein a player of said main game is offered said ante bet for play of said subsidiary game at the completion of a game sequence of said main game.
 13. The gaming machine of claim 2 wherein there is a re-spinning said set of side by side simulated reels of said main game if said player has placed a said ante bet.
 14. The gaming machine of claim 13 wherein, a pattern of said symbol containing elements appearing in said matrix when said set of side by side simulated reels of said main game have come to rest at an end of said re-spinning is maintained during play of said subsidiary game.
 15. The gaming machine of claim 2 wherein said at least one additional simulated reel of said subsidiary game is spun after said set of simulated side by side reels have come to rest.
 16. The gaming machine of claim 2 wherein a winning of a bonus feature of said subsidiary game played in combination with a main game, is dependent on a predefined number of scatter symbols appearing among the symbols of said symbol containing elements of said set of simulated side by side reels and said at least one additional simulated bonus reel.
 17. A method of playing a main game and a subsidiary game on a gaming machine; said method including the steps of: presenting said main game as an outcome of spinning a set of side by side simulated reels, arranging a gradual emerging of at least one additional simulated reel to one side of a matrix formed of symbol containing elements of displayed portions of said set of side by side simulated reels, awarding a feature to a player of said main game and said subsidiary game if a predefined number of scatter symbols appear on said set of sided by side simulated reels and said at least one additional simulated reel.
 18. A method of offering a player an optional ante bet for play of a subsidiary game in combination with play of a main game on a gaming machine; said method including the steps of: playing said main game on a set of side by side simulated reels, arranging a gradual emerging of at least one additional simulated reel if a said player has opted to place said ante bet, awarding a bonus feature to a player of said main game and said subsidiary game if a predefined number of scatter symbols appear on said set of sided by side simulated reels and said at least one additional simulated reel.
 19. A display for a main game and a subsidiary game of a gaming machine; said display gradually changing from a display of portions of a set of side by side simulated reels of said main game, to a display of said set of side by side simulated reels and at least one additional simulated reel appearing to one side of said set of side by side simulated reels; said at least one additional simulated reel arranged for play of a subsidiary game in combination with said main game.
 20. The display of claim 19 wherein said at least one additional simulated reel appears to emerge from under an outermost one of said set of side by side simulated reels of said main game.
 21. The display of claim 19 wherein a bonus feature is awarded to a player of said main game and said subsidiary game; said bonus feature awarded if a combination of symbols displayed on said set of side by side simulated reels and on said at least one additional simulated reels conforms to a predefined number or pattern of said symbols. 